This week’s Obscure Biblical Character is…Haman!

Esther 6:3-9
Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”
And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
So the kind said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”
And the king aid, “Let him come in.”
So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ”

I had to take a break in the action to point out something, before we get to my favorite line. Haman was asked the question ‘what should I do to someone who I want to honor?’. And thinking it was himself, he made it as good as he possibly could. He’s feeling pretty good right now: he thinks he’s going to be honored. Yay!

Esther 6:10
Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”

“Great idea, Haman! Go grab the robe and horse, and do it to Mordecai.” Here’s another instance where I would have loved to see Haman’s face. Now he gets to give the man he hates most and wants to kill the honor that he thought he was getting. If that isn’t a lesson about humility, I don’t know what is (I mean Old Testament humility… Jesus still beats this one out) person tried to get a big prize and say exactly what they think should be the prize, thinking that it’ll go to them, and then have to give it to the person he hates most.

So next week’s character:
-Jesus had previously changed his name
-in this situation, pointed out a dead fig tree to Jesus
-Jesus told him simply to have faith in God

He isn't really obscure, but he isn't as well known as Jesus.

In His Service,
Joyce